Electronic short messaging and advertising method and means

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an electronic short messaging and advertising method and means. In particular the invention relates to an electronic advertising method, where minimal initiative is required from the consumer. Some embodiments of the invention may also be applied to an electronic sales method. The invention may be applied for normal short messaging also. The electronic short messaging and advertising method comprises at least one subscriber terminal and uses the Internet and/or the telephony network. With the method in accordance with the invention the recipient can receive advertisements or other short messages with the shortest manipulation time possible. No navigation, browsing of inboxes, copying and/or pasting of telephone numbers needs to be done. The user is shown the message automatically, and he may delete it or receive further information on it with one single press of a dedicated key.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electronic short messaging method and means,suitable for example for advertising. In particular the inventionrelates to an electronic advertising method, where minimal initiative isrequired from the consumer. Some embodiments of the invention may alsobe applied to an electronic sales method. The invention may be appliedfor normal short messaging also.

In prior art electronic advertising methods adverts are typicallydelivered by email or SMS messages. Emails may contain hyperlinks toadvert sites. SMS messages may contain telephone numbers of advertisers.

The prior art has several disadvantages. The response to both types ofadverts requires active participation from the consumer. A hyperlinkneeds to be identified and clicked. A telephone number needs to beentered to a mobile station by copying it from the SMS message or byentering it manually. The SMS advertiser typically wants to be contactedby telephone, because the user holds a telephone. The email advertiserwants the user to visit a URL address, because the user is by acomputer.

The purpose of the invention is to remove the aforementioneddisadvantages. The invention requires zero initiative from the user torespond to a short message or an advert. Whether the advert iscommunicated by SMS or email makes no difference to the referral.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Most or all of the aforementioned advantages of the invention arepreferably implemented with a special exemplary embodiment of theinvention, in which a message, like an email or an SMS message is sentto a subscriber terminal. Preferably, software on the subscriberterminal recognises the arrival of the email or SMS-message from aunique identifier. A part of the message displaying an advert isdisplayed to the screen of the subscriber terminal, like “New Pirellityres 100 dollars, interested Yes/No?” By pressing a dedicated key for“No” the message is deleted and the screen returns to the normal state.By pressing a dedicated key for “Yes” the subscriber terminal connectsto an IP-address or an URL where the advertising is continued bydisplaying web pages, video and/or audio depicting the advertisement.Alternatively the subscriber terminal dials a telephone number to asales representative. The subscriber terminal may also form a packetswitched real time communication connection to a sales representativethrough the Internet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic shortmessaging method for sending transmissions to at least one subscriberterminal via the Internet and/or the telephony network, which method ischaracterised in that it comprises the step of sending a firsttransmission to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, said firsttransmission defining two active alternatives: a first alternative forfurther action and a second alternative for deleting the transmission.

In one preferred embodiment, said first transmission defines automaticdeletion after a predefined time period after reception unless one ofthe active alternatives is selected.

In another preferred embodiment, after a predefined period, a secondtransmission is sent to the recipient subscriber terminal unless thefirst alternative is selected, said second transmission removing thefirst transmission from display.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method forreceiving electronic transmissions by at least one subscriber terminalusing the Internet and/or the telephony network, which method ischaracterised in that it comprises the step of receiving a firsttransmission to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, said firsttransmission defining two active alternatives: a first alternative forfurther action and a second alternative for deleting the transmission.

In one preferred embodiment, said first transmission defines automaticdeletion after a predefined time period after reception unless one ofthe active alternatives is selected.

In another preferred embodiment, after a predefined period, a secondtransmission is received to the recipient subscriber terminal unless thefirst alternative is selected, said second transmission deleting thefirst transmission.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide anelectronic short messaging device, comprising means for communicatingusing at least one packet switched connection and/or telephony networkconnection, at least one display, and associated software, the devicebeing characterised in that, the associated software is arranged toidentify incoming transmissions and display the content or some parts ofthe content to the display directly and/or at predetermined intervals.In addition to SMS messages or the like, said transmissions include alsoa dynamic stream or the like watching of which can be started before theend of the delivery. This shall be explained in more detail in thefollowing detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail withreference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanyingdrawings, in which

FIG. 1 presents one favourable embodiment of the invention as a flowdiagram.

FIG. 2 presents a more general embodiment of the invention as a flowdiagram.

FIG. 3 presents a more developed embodiment of the invention as a flowdiagram.

FIG. 4 presents a more developed embodiment of the invention as a flowdiagram.

FIG. 5 presents a preferable embodiment of the inventive advertisingmeans.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In phase 110 of FIG. 1 a message is sent to the recipient subscriberterminal typically by SMS (Short Message Service), SMS containing abitmap, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) or email. In some preferableembodiments, the subscriber terminal is typically a PC computer, AppleMacintosh computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a UMTS-, GSM-,WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-, GPS- and/or WCDMAmobile station. Typically in some preferable embodiments, the subscriberterminal is a device using either the Microsoft Windows, Windows NT,Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epoc operatingsystem. In many preferable embodiments several default facilities of theoperating system are used to realise the inventive method.

In some preferable embodiments all messages may be delivered to the sameinbox. The recipient views the message from the inbox. The message willcontain a referral like “Pirelli tyres 100$, interested Y/N?, if yesplease press X.” Once the user presses X, or any other dedicated keydepicted by the message, he is connected to the original sender of themessage in phase 140. If he does something else, or nothing for sometime, the message may be deleted or postponed.

In some mobile device, there is a pair of key buttons for selecting thebioptional alternatives the normal operation of the mobile deviceinvolves. For example mobile telephones or PDAs have this kind of keybutton pairs. This pair of keys is advantageously used for selecting thebioptional alternatives of messages in accordance with the invention.

A telephone connection may be formed automatically on the basis of theCaller ID. In some embodiments a hyperlink, IP address and/or URLaddress of the sender may be designated in the message and thuscontacted through the Internet in accordance with the inventive method.In some preferable embodiments of the invention a pop-up function isdefined in the message. Once the message is received it is instantlypopped up on the subscriber terminal screen. For example in a smartphonecontaining two displays, like the Nokia Communicator, the message orsome parts of it is popped up on both or either displays. In a PC, themessage is popped on the screen once the messages have been downloaded.In a GSM mobile station the message or some parts of it are displayed inplace of the operator or cell logo or both. In both preferableembodiments typically a software is required to identify the message,and pop it on the screen. In some preferable embodiments the software isable to identify embedded phone numbers, IP-addresses and/or URLaddresses. Once “Yes” for the message is indicated, this aforementionedembedded directory information is read from the message and transferredto the communications part of the subscriber terminal.

After the user has been connected to the sender, he views, listens toand/or registers for proceedings in phase 150. In some preferableembodiments the proceedings may be a further advertisement on a webpage, an audio and/or video presentation, a conversation with a salesrepresentative and/or a registration for the receival of furtherinformation later by post, telephone, SMS and/or email.

In some preferable embodiments this is used to automate collect calls.If a person sends a message of the type: “Please call me Y/N?”, therecipient may launch a collect call by one press of a dedicated key. Inthese preferable embodiments the arrival of the message typicallylaunches a ring tone.

In some embodiments the method 10 is realised in a GSM network bysending a message in place of the operator logo on the terminal display.Alternatively SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast), USSD (Unstructured SupplementaryService Data), PDS (Packet Data on Signalling Channels) or WAPPush maybe used to display the message directly on the screen. This message maycontain instructions on an action to be taken if the logical response ofthe user is “Yes”, for example it may contain a telephone number towhich the user is connected, or it may trigger an SMS message from theuser or a request for an SMS from the network or sender by USSD, SMS, orthe like. A further message, linked to the original message of SMS,USSD, SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast) may be sent with the original message tocontain these instructions in some embodiments.

Upon any stage the network may also destroy or change the said messageby sending another message. In one embodiment, for example if theposition of the user changes, the HLR/VLR (Home/Visitor LocationRegister) or an external location server may prompt the network or anexternal messaging server to send a new message to update the message onthe terminal screen, or to delete the message on the terminal screen. Anecessary change of position may be for example leaving or entering acell.

In FIG. 2 the message is sent to the recipient subscriber terminal inphase 210. The recipient views the message in phase 220. In addition toSMS or email, the message can be delivered by FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP,UDP or by some other direct transfer protocol, and a “pop-up” softwarerecognises the said transmissions or messages at the subscriberterminal.

In phase 230 the message provides the user with the option to proceedwith further information related to the referral like “Pirelli tyres100$, interested Y/N? Please press Y to proceed!” If the user chooses topress the designated key, Y in this case, he is connected to a thirdparty designated by the message in phase 240.

If he does something else or nothing for some time, the process isterminated and the message is deleted or postponed. In some preferableembodiments this is done by moving the message to the “Recycle bin” ofthe operating system of the subscriber terminal.

If the user chooses “Yes” by pressing a dedicated key or otherwise, heis connected to a third party designated by the message in phase 240.The message may have embedded phone numbers, IP-addresses,URL-addresses, ISDN-, FTP-, email-, SIP (Session InitiationProtocol)-addresses and/or other electronic directories to which theuser is connected in some preferable embodiments.

After the user has been connected to the third party, he views, listensto, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase 250. Insome preferable embodiments the proceedings may be a furtheradvertisement on a web page, an audio and/or a video presentation, aconversation with a sales representative and/or a registration for thereceival of further information later by post, telephone, SMS and/oremail or a registration to a customer database for monitoring purposes.

In some embodiments the method 20 is realised in a cellular network bysending a message in place of the operator logo on the terminal display.Alternatively SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast), USSD, PDS (Packet Data onSignalling Channels) or WAPPush may be used to display the messagedirectly on the screen. This message may contain instructions on anaction to be taken if the logical response of the user is “Yes”, forexample it may contain a telephone number to which the user isconnected, or it may trigger an SMS message from the user or a requestfor an SMS from the network or sender by USSD, SMS, or the like. Afurther message, linked to the original message of SMS, USSD, SMS-CB(Cell Broadcast) may be sent with the original message to contain theseinstructions in some embodiments. In some embodiments this furthermessage precedes the actual message and initialises the device todisplay the message directly on the screen. Typically a secondtransmission is sent and received and associated with the firsttransmission, depicting attributes related to user input, furtheractions and/or state of the first transmission or any other attributesor instructions.

Upon any stage the network may also destroy or change the said messageby sending another message. In one embodiment, for example if theposition of the user changes, the HLR/VLR (Home/Visitor LocationRegister) or an external location server may prompt the network or anexternal messaging server to send a new message to update the message onthe terminal screen, or to delete the message on the terminal screen. Anecessary change of position may be for example leaving or entering acell.

Especially when the first message is a USSD message, it is typical thatthe network, MSC, or an external server contains an USSD managementapplication that administers the display, change and connection and/orresponse parameters of the messages on the user terminal displays.

In one embodiment the GSM terminal has dedicated software installed torun and administer the process of displaying messages. In one embodimentthis software is realised as SIM Application Toolkit software on the SIMcard of the mobile terminal, in another alternative embodiment it couldbe realised with a WAP-browser. This software recognises messages, forexample SMS, SMS-CB, USSD, PDS or WAPPush messages that are sent to theterminal, and displays the bioptional messages to the user on thedisplay. The recognition is typically done from a unique identifierassociated with the message, for example in the header of the message.In some embodiments an initialisation message preceding the actualmessage may be used to set the terminal and associated software to astate where the incoming message(s) is displayed on the screen. If theuser takes a dedicated action logically “Yes”, the software willadminister the proceedings.

In phase 310 of FIG. 3 a transmission is sent to a recipient. Thetransmission may be a discrete message, but it may also be a continuoustransmission and/or a real time transmission. Typically transmissions ofthis sort are realised by GPRS-, UMTS-FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or bysome other direct data transfer protocol, and the said transmissionsand/or messages are recognised at the subscriber terminal. Thetransmission may be a dynamic stream of e.g. IP-packets, or packets ofany other protocol, and the reading and viewing of some of the packetsmay be begun even before the whole transmission has been received insome embodiments. In phase 320 the recipient views the transmission orsome displayed parts of the transmission. In phase 330 the transmissionor some parts of it are arranged to ask the recipient whether to proceedwith further information. In some preferable embodiments, the user maybe promised money for viewing the advert. In some embodiments themessage is of the type: “New product X, interested Y/N? The phonebill/download is on us!” In some preferable embodiments, the message maybe of the type: “New product X for 100$, interested Y/N? You get 1$ forviewing the advert!”

If “NO” the process is terminated and the message and/or transmission orsome of its parts are deleted in phase 335. If “YES” the subscriberterminal automatically connects to a third party designated by themessage. Any electronic address may be embedded in the transmission, insome preferable embodiments.

In phase 350 the bits transmitted and/or received and/or connectedminutes are calculated. The calculation may be done by software at thesubscriber terminal or in the network or both.

After the user has been connected to the third party, he views, listensto, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase 360. Insome preferable embodiments the proceedings may be a furtheradvertisement on a web page, an audio and/or a video presentation, aconversation with a sales representative and/or a registration for thereceival of further information later by post, telephone, SMS and/oremail or a registration to a customer database for monitoring purposes.

In some preferable embodiments, the phases 350 and 360 overlap or areconducted simultaneously.

In phase 365, money can be refunded to the recipient on the basis ofbits transmitted and/or received and/or connected minutes. In somepreferable embodiments, the amount of refund is based on the promise inthe original message. In some preferable embodiments the refund is madeto the phone bill of the recipient. In some preferable embodiments acheque is posted to the owner of the subscriber terminal. In somepreferable embodiments, the user is given a discount on the price,monthly fee, and/or per minute and/or per bit rate if the user acceptsto receive adverts on a continuous basis.

Same options for deleting or updating transmission streams orassociating transmission streams with each other exist as with discretemessages in accordance with the invention.

In the phase 410 of FIG. 4 a message is sent to a recipient. Therecipient views the message in phase 420. In phase 430 the message askswhether the recipient wishes to proceed with the proposal. In somepreferable embodiments the proposal may be of the form: “A single byBeatles, “Yesterday” 50 cents, Interested Y/N?” In some preferableembodiments the item to be sold is any data file, like a softwareprogram, movie in digital format, music in digital format, map indigital format, and/or any other document in digital format.

If “NO” the process is terminated and the message is deleted in phase335. If “YES” the subscriber terminal automatically connects to a thirdparty designated by the message. Any electronic address may be embeddedin the message, in some preferable embodiments.

After the user has been connected to the third party, he views, listensto, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase 450.

In phase 460 the bits transmitted and/or received and/or connectedminutes are calculated. The calculation may be done by a software at thesubscriber terminal or in the network or both.

In phase 465, money can be charged from the recipient on the basis ofbits transmitted and/or received and/or connected minutes. In somepreferable embodiments, the charge is based on the price in the originalmessage. In some preferable embodiments the charge is added to the phonebill of the recipient. In some preferable embodiments a bill is postedto the owner of the subscriber terminal. In some preferable embodimentsthe credit card numbers are automatically exchanged and the account isautomatically debited to complete the purchase. In some preferableembodiments the credit card number of the subscriber is requested in aseparate step of the proceedings.

In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a mobilestation, and the message is an SMS message. In some of these preferableembodiments the said message or some parts of the said message aredisplayed in the telephony network operator logo, and/or the networkcell logo. In these embodiments the subscriber terminal is typically aGSM mobile station.

In many embodiments of the described inventive methods permutations ofphases are possible and in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 presents a preferable embodiment of the subscriber terminal inaccordance with the invention. The subscriber terminal is typically a PCcomputer, Apple Macintosh computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)or a UMTS-, GSM-, WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-,and/or WCDMA mobile station. Typically in some preferable embodiments,the subscriber terminal is a device using either the Microsoft Windows,Windows NT, Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epocoperating system. In many preferable embodiments several defaultfacilities of the operating system are used to realise the inventiveadvertising means.

In some preferable embodiments the inventive subscriber terminal 500comprises at least one packet switched connection 510 and/or telephonynetwork connection 520, a display 550, at least one message inbox 540and associated software 530.

The associated software 530 is arranged to recognise messages from theinbox 540. In some preferable embodiments of the invention there is asingle inbox for SMS-messages, voicemail and emails. This is especiallythe case with inventive subscriber terminals running the Epoc operatingsystem. However, the associated software 530 can monitor several inboxeson the subscriber terminal or in the telephony network or the Internet.

In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a PC computer,Apple Macintosh computer and/or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Inthese preferable embodiments the pop-up software typically monitors theemail inbox of the user on a server on the Internet or the inbox on thesubscriber terminal or both. When a special email is sent to the inbox540, it contains an identifying element that the pop-up software 530 canrecognise. Once this identifying element is recognised, the message orsome parts of it is popped to the monitor 550. In some preferableembodiments the message is displayed on the desktop of the computer. Themessage may read for example: “Pirelli tyres 100$, interested Y/N?” Insome preferable embodiments the user presses Y to connect to the partyfor further proceedings. If he presses N, or some other key, or doesnothing for a predefined time, the message disappears and is deleted.

In some preferable embodiments the message is not delivered by email,but MMS is used instead. In some preferable embodiments it may bedelivered directly to the subscriber terminal by FTP, TCP/IP, H323,HTTP, UDP or by some other direct transfer protocol, and the pop-upsoftware recognises the said transmissions. In these embodiments theinbox is preferably not needed.

In all or some of the embodiments the display of the advert may beenhanced by audio and/or video by the audio/video devices 590. In somepreferable embodiments, the message is not deleted, but stored to thestorage means 560. The storage means may be a hard drive, CD-ROM,computer disk, computer memory or any other electromagnetic storagemeans. In some preferable embodiments this is done by moving the messageand/or transmission to the “Recycle Bin” of the operating system.

In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a WID(Wireless Information Device) that runs Epoc, Windows CE, Palm OS, GEOS,and/or Windows Pocket PC operating system. In some preferableembodiments the message and/or the transmission is delivered by MMS,SMS, email, by FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or by some other direct datatransfer protocol, and the pop-up software recognises the saidtransmissions and/or messages. In some preferable embodiments themessage or some parts of it are shown on at least one display of thesmartphone by the pop-up software 530. In some preferable embodimentsthe pop-up software 530 is arranged to use several application enginesof the operating system. For example in Epoc, the pop-up software mayintroduce a completely new messaging subsystem. In some preferableembodiments this is done simply by registering additional MTMs (MessageTransfer Module). In Epoc, the MTMs are introduced by the Epoc Emailapp, which is arranged to support Internet mail SMTP, POP3, IMAP4, faxand SMS.

In some preferable embodiments there is at least one special MTM, whichrecognises the messages that should be popped to the display. In somepreferable embodiments the messages are not necessarily adverts, but canbe messages of any type.

Typically smartphones have one phone display and one computer display.In some preferable embodiments the message or some parts of it aredisplayed in place of the telephony network operator logo, and/or thenetwork cell logo, on the telephony display and/or on the computerdisplay.

If the user is uninterested of the message, he may destroy it bypressing a key or by doing nothing for a predefined period. Once thisoption is realised the message is typically deleted and/or moved to the“Recycling bin.”

The message typically embeds an electronic address, which can becontacted by a dedicated key if proceedings are desired. In somepreferable Epoc embodiments of the invention several applicationengines, dial up, NIFMAN, Internet protocols like PPP or other, and/orWeb app are used automatically to realise the communications connectionto the said third party.

In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a GSM mobilestation. In these preferable embodiments the inbox 540 is typically aSMS inbox. The pop-up software 530 is embedded in the code of the mobilestation. Once the message, typically an SMS message, or transmission,typically a DTMF-tone or a FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or some otherdirect transfer protocol transmission via GSM data, is received themessage or some parts of it are displayed on the display 550. In somepreferable embodiments the message or some parts of it are displayed inplace of the telephony network operator logo, and/or the network celllogo.

The message may read for example: “Pirelli tyres 100$, interested Y/N?”In some preferable embodiments the user presses Y to connect to theparty for further proceedings. If he presses N, or some other key, ordoes nothing for a predefined time, the message disappears and isdeleted. In some embodiments indications may be changed, for examplepressing # may indicate “Yes” in some preferable embodiments.

Once “Yes” has been indicated the subscriber terminal will dial a numberembedded in the message, or open a data connection, like GSM-data to anIP address, URL address or any other electronic address.

In many of the presented embodiments after the user has been connectedto the party designated in the message, he views, listens to and/orregisters for proceedings. The party may be for example the caller, andcontact can be made on the basis of Caller ID in some preferableembodiments. In some preferable embodiments the proceedings may be afurther advertisement on a web page, an audio and/or video presentation,a conversation with a sales representative and/or a registration for thereceival of further information later by post, telephone, SMS and/oremail.

In some preferable embodiments, the subscriber terminal is arranged toplay a sound, a beep and/or ring tone for example, upon arrival of themessage and/or transmission. In some preferable embodiments, the messageand/or transmission may contain a ringtone, and/or a WAV- and/or anMP3-file, which is played at the recipient subscriber terminal.Alternatively in some embodiments the transmission may be arranged totrigger the playing of a particular file.

In some preferable embodiments, the users can decline to accept incomingmessages by a dedicated action that sends a signal to the network. Insome preferable embodiments this disables all or some parts of theinformation exchange between the Home Location Register of the cellularnetwork and third parties. In some preferable embodiments the user mayinvite incoming messages by enabling the network to transmit informationfrom the Home Location Register to third parties. In many preferableembodiments enabling and disabling are done by a dedicated signalrecognised by the network. In some preferable embodiments the signal isan email, SMS and/or an MMS message and/or a transmission delivered byFTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP and/or UDP and/or the transmission is a DTMFtone or a phone call.

The invention has been explained above with reference to theaforementioned embodiments and several commercial and industrialadvantages of the invention have been demonstrated. With the method inaccordance with the invention the recipient can receive advertisementsor other short messages with the shortest manipulation time possible. Nonavigation, browsing of inboxes, copying and/or pasting of telephonenumbers needs to be done. The user is shown the message automatically,and he may delete it or receive further information on it with onesingle press of a dedicated key.

The invention has been explained above with reference to theaforementioned embodiments. However, it is clear that the invention isnot only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possibleembodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and thefollowing patent claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An electronic short messaging method forsending transmissions to at least one subscriber terminal via theInternet and/or the telephony network, comprising: sending a firsttransmission to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, said firsttransmission defining two active alternatives: (i) a first alternativefor further action and (ii) a second alternative for deleting thetransmission, wherein unless the first alternative is selected saidfirst transmission defines automatic deletion after reception after apredefined time period; and when the first alternative is selected,connecting the recipient subscriber to an original sender of the firsttransmission.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending asecond transmission that includes attributes related to: (i) user input,(ii) further actions and (iii) a state of the first transmission,wherein the second transmission is associated with the firsttransmission.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the further actionsincludes at least one of: (i) connecting to a telephone number,IP-address, URL, or the like directory, (ii) sending a furthersubscriber originated message, (iii) requesting a call, (iv) requestinga call back to the message sender, and (v) registering for furtherinformation.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the recipient subscriberterminal is one of a: (i) PC computer, (ii) Apple Macintosh computer,(iii) PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), (iv) UMTS-, GSM-, WAP-,Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-, or WCDMA mobile station,and (v) a device using the Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, Windows CE,Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epoc operating system.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein bits transmitted or received and connectedminutes are calculated, and the calculation is done by software at thesubscriber terminal, in the network, or both.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein money is charged or refunded to the recipient on the basis ofbits transmitted or received, connected minutes, price or promise in thefirst transmission.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the firsttransmission is one of a MMS-, SMS-, SMS CB-, USSD-, PDS-, WAPPushmessage or an email, and is embedded with at least one phone number,IP-address, URL-addresses and/or other electronic directories to whichthe user is arranged to be connected.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first transmission is one of a MMS-, SMS transmission, email,DTMF-tone or a FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP data transfer or some otherdirect data transfer and is embedded with at least one phone number,IP-address, URL-address, ISDN-, FTP-, email-, SIP (Session InitiationProtocol)-address(es) and/or other electronic directories to which theuser is arranged to be connected.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein theselection of one of the first and second alternatives is indicated bypressing a dedicated key on the subscriber terminal.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first transmission or some parts of the firsttransmission are displayed in place of a telephony network operator logoor a network cell logo.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the firsttransmission or some parts of the first transmission pop up on at leastone display of the subscriber terminal instantly or within a definedperiod upon arrival to the subscriber terminal.
 12. An electronic shortmessaging device comprising: means for communicating, using at least onepacket switched connection or telephony network connection, at least onedisplay, and associated software configured to identify incomingtransmissions and display the content or some parts of the content tothe display directly or at predetermined intervals, first ones of theincoming transmissions defining two alternatives: a first alternativefor further action and a second alternative for deleting the respectivefirst incoming transmission, wherein unless the first alternative forfurther action is selected the associated software is configured toautomatically delete the respective first incoming transmission, asdefined in the respective first incoming transmission, after apredefined time period after reception, and when the first alternativeis selected, the associated software is further configured to connectthe device to an original sender of the first ones of the incomingtransmissions.
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein theassociated software is a SIM Application Toolkit on the SIM card of theelectronic short messaging device.
 14. The device according to claim 12,wherein the device is one of a: (i) PC computer, (ii) Apple Macintoshcomputer, (iii) PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), (iv) UMTS-, GSM-,WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-, or WCDMA mobilestation, and (v) a device using the Microsoft Windows, Windows NT,Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epoc operatingsystem.
 15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the first incomingtransmission is one of a MMS-, SMS message or an email, and is embeddedwith at least one phone number, IP-address, URL-address, ISDN-, FTP-,email-, SIP-address(es), or other electronic directories to which theuser is arranged to be connected by a dedicated action.
 16. Anon-transitory computer readable medium comprising a software program,wherein the software program is configured to cause a processor to:recognize a first transmission; display a bioptional message in thefirst transmission on the terminal display, the bioptional messagedefining two active alternatives, a first alternative for further actionand a second alternative for deleting the first transmission; initiateproceedings in response to selection of the first alternative by a user,wherein the proceedings comprise connecting to an original sender of thefirst transmission; and automatically remove the first transmission fromdisplay after reception after a predefined time period.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein thesoftware program is a SIM Application Toolkit on a SIM card of a mobileterminal, a USSD application on a network.
 18. An electronic shortmessaging method for receiving transmissions by a recipient subscriberterminal using the Internet and/or the telephony network, comprising:receiving a first transmission at the recipient subscriber terminal fordisplay, said first transmission defining two active alternatives, afirst alternative for further action and a second alternative fordeleting the transmission; and when the first alternative is selected,connecting the recipient subscriber to an original sender of the firsttransmission, wherein, unless the first alternative is selected, saidfirst transmission defines an automatic deletion after reception after apredefined time period.